Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
August 3, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to submit to you a copy
of a letter addressed to her Majesty’s consul at New York, by Messrs.
Tootal, Broadhurst & Lee, British merchants residing at that place.
These merchants complain that they are required, on making shipment to
Nassau, in the Bahamas, to give a bond that the goods shall be landed
there and entered for consumption, and the duties paid upon them; and,
moreover, that none of them shall be used to give aid and comfort to
parties in rebellion against the United States.
The attention of her Majesty’s government having been directed to this
letter, they have desired me to make a fresh appeal to you on the
subject of the interference of the United States government with the
trade carried on between
[Page 683]
New
York and the Bahamas. In the hope that their former representations
would not remain without effect, her Majesty’s government refrained from
continuing the controversy with the United States government on this
matter; but finding that their expectation has been disappointed, they
have instructed me to address this fresh remonstrance to you.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
&c., &c., &c.
Tootal, Broadhurst & Lee to
Consul at New York.
3 Park Place,
New York,
June 13, 1863.
Sir: On applying at the New York
custom-house for a permit to reship some goods belonging to us, now
lying in bonded store, to Nassau, we were given to understand that
to do so we must give a bond, of which the enclosed is a form.
As British merchants, we feel that, according to the United States
laws, we have a right to reship any goods we may have landed here
and not entered for consumption in the United States, to any open
port in the world we may choose, or find to be our interest to do,
by giving the usual bond that they are really destined for the port
for which they are cleared, which bond is cancelled on showing a
certificate from the United States consul of such port that they
have actually arrived.
You will see that in the bond enclosed, that we should bind ourselves
that they should be entered for consumption at the port to which
they are reshipped. Now, it may happen that on their arrival there
the market may be such that it would be for our interest to reship
them elsewhere. Under any circumstances we feel that we ought to
have perfect liberty and control over them, either to reship, sell
in bond, on duty paid, as best suits us. Believing such to be the
case, we apply to you, as the proper authority, to see that our
rights are not interfered with.
We are, &c, &c,
TOOTAL, BROADHURST & LEE.
Her Britannic Majesty’s Consul,
at New York.
